Method and apparatus for making cords or other like articles



' W. J. STEINLE.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CORDS OR OTHER LIKE ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 19-17.

1,3 5,560. A Patented Jan. 11,1921.

Inventor:

ly lzz'imlszg inz w zis Atty.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. f

FORD RUBBER WORKS COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MA KING- COBDS ON OTHER LIKE ARTICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J an. 11, 1921,

Application field November .10, 1917. Serial No. 261,231.

ed with rubber or other vulcanizable material.

The object of my invention is to provide a method or art of producing a cord or other like article embodying a continuous body consisting of rubber-coated, or otherwise treated fabric, having a cover of similarv material applied and bonded thereto in amanner to minimize any tendency toward the unwinding 'of the cover or a permanent elongation of the finished product. By this method or art I am enabled to produce a cord, or other like article, which will be of substantially uniform gage and be so formed that the bodywill resist such longitudinal stresses upon the finished product as would tend to disturb the cover while the cover will prevent any material disarrangement of the body.

The method of producing the cord is-such as to insure its having only slight'elasticity 'anda friction surface,.which makes the cord particularly adaptable for use'as a driving belt in'and about machinery.-

Appa'ratus made in accordance with my invention is so constructed as to simultane-v ously. formthe body portlon of a cord, or

the like, and cover same by a continuous operation, so as to prepare the cord for vulcanization. This apparatus embodies therein means for insuring a desired intimate bond between the body portion and thecover, to preserve the "proper relationof these parts and permit subsequent handl ng of. the cord, or the like, prior to vulcamzation, without likelihood of the body and the cover being disarranged. I p

.Rolls of tape are used in the machine, and

The various mechanisms for forming the WILLIAM J. STEINLE, OF'ELMHURST HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'ro TEE HABT- in addition to providing means for feeding the tape and advancing the cord as it is pro body of the cord, or other like article, andapplying the cover thereto, are so synchronized in their functionings as to insure sub stantial uniformity in thegage of the product.

used to gage the cord after it has been formed and covered, and'to insure the desiredbond between the cover and the body sheaves are'provided between said die and the Winding reel for permitting the cord to If desired, a heated forming die maybe cool before it isfin ally wound upon said reel. In order to insure uniformity ofthe' finished product, it is essential that the cord,

or other like article, ,be fed at a uniform speed in relation to said forming die, irre' spective of the diameter of the/windings upon the winding spool. f 4 5 My invention consists in the method or art of making cord, or like articles, consisting in the novel steps and practices, and 1n thenovel features ofconstruction and combination of parts'in an apparatus for making such cords, orother like articles, all as hereinafter set more particularly pointed out in the clalms hereto appended. i Referring to the drawingsz forth and described, and- Figure 1 is a front view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of an apparatus made in accordance with my inventlon, for producing cords, or other like'artlcles, 1n accordance with invention. r F Fig. 2 is 'asection taken on line 2*2, i 1; p

ig. 3 is a detail view, upon an enlarged scale, illustrating the manner of forming the body and applying the cover thereto.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. v

In the practice of my method or art, I form the .body of the cord, or other like article, by winding or twisting a strip of tape, coated upon [eitheror both sides with rub-- the me h d or art f th extending cord, so as to give a spiral trend to the longitudinally extending threads or cords of the rubberized fabric. In so winding or twisting said tape, the edges thereof are caused to form a butt-joint as distinguished from an overlapping j oint, in order to insuresubstantial uniformity in the gage of the finished product. Thereafter I form upon said body a cover of the same, or similarmaterial, by winding the tape spirally about the body'so formed, the edges of this a tape also'abutting, so as to present no protuberances upon the surface of the cord thus formed. 7 The tape of'the cover is wound in a direction opposite to that in which the body is wound ortwisted in order to cause the body to resist any tendency of the cover to unwind, and to cause the cover to check any tendency of the body to unwind. The method of winding the tapes also limits the elasticity of the finished product, and prevents a permanent elongation thereof.

While ordiparily, the raw rubber with which the tape is coated, will cause the cover to adhere firmly to the body, nevertheless' to insure permanency of this bond,

* I preferably subject the cord to heat imof the cord, or other like article, is indicated at 10, and thecover therefor, at 11.' In the form of the invention illustrated, the body ortion is formed by twisting the tape upon tself, although it is not my intention to limit the invention 'to the forming of the body in this manner, for, as hereinbefore stated, a longitudinally extending cord'may be used, about which the body portion may I be formed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated an apparatus which'embodies a 1 form of the invention es ecially adapted for use in the production 0' cords made in accordance with the method or art described above, the strip or tape for forming the body of thecord, or'other like article, being indicated at-12. A rollof this strip or tape is mounted upon a rotatable support 13, carried b the spindle 14. The said support is provi ed with a suitable guide 15 adjacent the periphery thereof, the position of which guide controls the angle or pitch at which the strip or tape is wound or twisted. The strip or tape 16 for forming the cover 11 is carried by a rotatable support 17 mounted upon a spindle 18 concentric with the spindle 14. The support 17 is provided with a suitable guide 19 adjacent its periphery, the radius of this guide being greater than that of the guide 15 so as to permit the strip or tape 12 to always pass within the strip or tape 16. The guides 15 and 19 keep the stripor tape flat while it is passing to the point where it is'wound or twisted, as hereinafter described.

The spindles 14 and 18 are simultaneously rotated in opposite directions, the former being driven by the gear train 20, receiving power from a gear 21 upon. a shaft 22, while the latter is driven by the gear train 23, including therein an intermediate idler gear 24 for reversing the direction of drive, the first gear of'eachtrain, 20-23,'being carried by the same shaft 25. The main power shaft is indicated at 26, the power being transmitted to the shaft 22' through the bevel gears 27.

The manner of'transmitting power to the spindles 14 and 18, is immaterial to my vention, however, it being merely necessary that said shafts shall be simultaneonsly driven in opposite directions. In the form;

of the invention shown, the spindle 14 is drivenat a relatively higher speed than the spindle 18a construction whlch is particularly adaptable to the production of cords having a .body portion formed of a strip or tape wound ortwisted upon itself.

In conjunction with the rotatable wlnding supports heretofore described, I provide meanssfor imparting uniform l neal movement to the cords or other articles, after the body has been formed and the cover "has.

been applied thereto. This feeding mechanism preferablyconsists of parallel, multi ple grooved sheaves 28 and 29, one of which, 29, is rotated at a uniform, slow speed by the gear train 30, the worm wheel 31 and the worm 32 carried by an extension of the shaft 22. By this construction, the, feedlng movement of the cord is not only uniform, but is synchronous with the winding or twisting actionupon thetapes by the supports 13' and 17." In this manner uniform strength and;

gage is secured in the finished product. 7

Above the sheaves 28 and 29 is ,a reel 33, upon which the. cord is wound after leaving one of the flanges it will, after making one ortwo turns, fall. into position for winding in a reverse dlrection,"

saidsheaves, the reel being driven by a belt peatedly about the sheaves 28 and-29, it is passed through a smoothing and forming I die 35, which tends to bring the cordto size 7 'of the cord, or other like article. To inparatus is substantially as follows:

and to cause the cover to adhere to, or to form a strong bond with the body portion crease the efliciency of the die .35 it is sometimes preferable to heat said die, which, in the form of the invention shown, is accomplished by making the die hollow and placing it in communication, by means of pipes 36 and37, with a'suitable source of steam or hot water or air, which is thus circulated through said die and'about the walls of the opening ltherethrough.

To assist in properly centering the cord with relation to the die, and to insure the winding of the cover 16 at a proper and uni form angle, about the body portion, I provide the support 17 with an arm 38 carrying a grooved guide wheel 39 adjacent and below the die 35, said wheel 39 rotating with the guide 19 and the support 17 If a running core, either permanent or temporary, be used in producing cords or other like articles, the strip or tape-12 will readily twist about the same; but in the event that it is desired to form the body by merely twisting or winding the strip or tape 12 upon itself, it is necessary to provide a resistance memher, about which the strip or tape 12 passes and by which it is accurately alined with the axis of the die 35. This member must extend axially of the spindle -14 and must turn with said spindle, so as to secure the desired Winding or twisting action between the end thereof and the die 35.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the resistance member preferably consists of a hook 40 having an enlarged butt 41 adapted to have a close sliding fit with the spindle 14, which is hollow, for the purpose of receiving the butt 41 or for permitting a flexible core to be run therethrough to serve as a resistance member in lieu of said hook. The butt 41 is secured by means of a set screw 42 so as to cause said hook to turn with the spindle 14.

' T o facilitate the mounting of the .strip or tape upon the support 17 it is essential that the support 13 be so mounted upon its spindle as to'be readily removed therefrom, the manner of mounting the hook 40 being such as to permit its removal for the purpose of facilitating the removal of such support 13 and the mounting of the spool of strip or tape upon the support 17.

'Whenit is desired to place a new roll of tape upon support 13, it is onlynecessary to loosen set screw 42, remove the hook 40 and lay the roll upon the support. When it becomes necessary to place a new roll of tape upon support 17 it is necessary toremove both the hook and the support 13. It will be understood that a key or any suitable means may be employed to connect the support 13 to its spindle 14 without efi'ecting the removal of. the said support from the spindle.

The operation of the herein described ap- Spools of the cord fabric or other strip or tape coated, or otherwise treated, with 'rubber or other vulcanizable material havering tape thereto.

Thereafter, the end of the tape 16 is passed through the guide 19 and past the roller 39 and wrapped about the portion of' the body 10 between the hook 40 and the die 35 sufficiently to cause it. to firmly adhere to said body portion. I

Power is then applied to the machine, causing the support 13 to turn in one direction, the support 17 to turn in the other direction at a relatively lower speed, and the sheave 29 toturn in a manner to impart lineal movement to the cord, or other article, through the die 35.-

The sheave 28 is turned by the stresses upon the several bights of the cord or other like article passing; about same and the power driven sheave 29. This results not only in a compaction of the cord, but when heat is used about the die 35, also affords adequate time for the cooling of'the cord, or other like article, before it is wound upon the reel 33. The use of these sheaves 28-29 causes a uniform rate of movement of the cord, or other article, through the die, irrespective of the action of the reel 33. 7

Since the hook or resistance member 40 turns with the support 13 and the guide 15.

the winding or twisting of the tape 12 will eyond said guide roller being already covered with the tape 16 wound spirally about same.- The said guide roller 39- holds the wound or twisted portion of the tape 12 against lateral displacement due to stresses thereon from the tape 16.

I have found in practice that the drag upon the tape 12 and 16 while being drawn from their spools and in passing about the respective guides therefor, issufiicient to secure sufficient tension to properly wind or twist same, although it is not my inten- I ofthe fabric 0 tion to limit myself to an apparatus in .which no tensiomng devices actmg upon the tapes are used.

Whilein the apparatus shownin the accompanying drawings, the support 13 is driven at. a speed relatively higher than that of the support 17, because the pitch of the longitudinally extending threads or cords in the fabric of the body portion is lower than the pitch of the threads or cords diameter of the body portion is less than that of the cover, this construction is not essential, as said supports may be driven at the same speed, or the support 13 may be driven at a lower speed than the support 17 if desired, according to-any desired variance inthe pitch of the tapes forming the body portion and the covering therefor, or

any desired variance in the widths of the tapes or strips used.

By winding or twisting the tapes or strips I 12 and 16 in opposite directions, each will counteract a tendency of the other strip to unwind, and any likelihood of a permanent elongation of. the completed product is avoided. v

The driving means for the "supports 13 and 17 and for the feeding means for im'- parting lineal movement to the formed tapes are so constructed and proportioned, and the several guides are so set, as to prevent the edges of the tapes 12 and 16 laps ping as, they are wound or. twisted, thus insuring substantial uniformity in .the gage of the. completed product. r

If it is desired to wind a tape or strip about, a previously formed core, the member-40 is removed and. the previously formed core is fed through the spindle 14 to the winding mechanism.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the details of construction shown' in the drawings, it being apparent that such maybe varied without -.departing from. the spirit and scope of the invention. 7 I

Having described the invention, what];

claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters .Batent is 1. The herein described method or art ofmaking cords, or other like articles, consisting in forming the body portion thereof by windingor twisting a strip or tape of fabric coated with vulcanizable rubber composition,or other vulcanizable material, winding a strip or tape of fabric coated with vulcanizable rubber composition, or other vulcanizable material, spirally about said body and vulcanizing the cord, or other like article.

' 2. The herein described method or art of making cords, or otherlike' articles, consisting in forming the body portion thereof by winding or twisting a strip or tape of fabric coated with vulcanizable rubber composition, or other vulcanizable material, windthe cover, and because the ing a strip or tape of fabric coated with vulcanizable rubber composition, or other vulcanizable material, spirally aboutsaid body portion, thereafter passing said cord or other like article through a die, and vulcanizing the cord, or other like article.

3. The herein described method or art of making cords, or other like articles, consisting in forming the body portion thereof by winding or twisting a strip or tape of fabric coated with vulcanizable rubber composition, or other vulcanizable material, winding a strip or tape of fabric coated with vulrotat-able support for helically winding a plastic impregnated covering on the core at a point between said guide means and forming die.

. ished cord passes,-and means carried by said i 5. An apparatus for making cord, or other.

' like articles, embodying therein a plurality of concentric supports, each'adapted to carry a supply of strip ortape mounted thereon, means simultaneously rotating adjoining supports in opposite directions whereby said strips or .tapes are wound or twisted in opposite directions one about another, feeding means imparting lineal movement to the formed cord, or other like article, a die between said supports and said feeding means through which the cord, or other like article, passes to said feeding means, and means whereby said die may be heated.

6. An apparatus for making cord, or other like articles, embodying therein two concentricsupports each adapted to have a supply of strip or tape mounted thereon, means whereby said supports are simultaneously rotated in opposite directions and at different speeds, whereby-said strips are wound or twisted in opposite directions, and one upon the other, guides carried by said supports respectively, said guides being arranged at different radial distances from the axis of rotation of said supports, and feeding means imparting linealmovement to the. I

formed cord, or otherlike article.

7. 'An apparatus for making cord or other like articles, embodying therein two concentrio supports e'ach adapted to have a supply of strip or tape mounted thereon, meanswhereby said supportsare simultaneously rotated in opposite directions and at different speeds, a hook carried by, extending axiallyof, and rotating with the support rotating at the higher speed whereby one of said strips or tapes is woundor twisted to form the body of the cord, or other like article, and feeding means imparting lineal movement to the formed cord, or other like article.

, 8. An apparatus'for making cord or other like articles, embodying therein two concentric supports each-adapted to have a supply of strip or tape mounted thereon, means whereby said supports are simultaneously rotated in opposite directions and at diflerent speeds, ahook 'carried by, extending axially of, and rotating with the support rotating at the higher speed whereby one of said strips or tapes is wound 'or. twisted to form the body of the cord, or other like article, guides carried by sald supports respective said guides being arranged at vdifi'erent radial distances from the axis of rotation of said supports, feeding means imparting lineal movement to the formed cord, or other like article, a die between said hook and said feeding means, an arm carried by the support rotating at the lower speed, and a guide roller carried thereby between said hook and said die whereby the cord or other like article is accurately centered with relation to said die and the strip ortape wound or twisted upon and about said body is guided as it is being so wound or twisted.

igned at New York, countyand State of New. York, this'5 da ofNovember 1917.

v WIL IAM J. STEINLE. 

